Commercial Space
NASA is enabling commercial industry to build, own, and operate space systems, while the agency purchases services to meet its science and research needs. Through public‑private partnerships, NASA is expanding access to space for more science, more people, and more opportunities.
Quick Facts
On Nov. 15, 2020, NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, launched from Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station on the SpaceX Crew‑1 mission — the first operational flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Low Earth Orbit
As the International Space Station nears the end of operations, NASA plans to transition to a new low Earth orbit model to continue leveraging microgravity benefits. Through commercial partnerships, NASA aims to maintain its leadership in microgravity research to support its exploration missions and ensure continued benefits for humanity.
Lunar Economy
NASA is returning America to the Moon through its Artemis missions. American innovation is leading the way, and the future at the Moon holds promise for a robust lunar marketplace. NASA’s strategy stimulates the commercial space industry, which drives new ideas, brings down costs, and grows the business opportunities that can foster a lunar economy and serve other customers for the benefit of humanity.
Private Astronaut Missions
Private astronaut missions to the International Space Station help pave the way toward commercial space stations as part of NASA’s efforts to develop a thriving low Earth orbit ecosystem and marketplace.
Human Landing Systems
NASA’s commercial providers, SpaceX and Blue Origin, are building the human landing systems that will carry Artemis astronauts to the lunar surface and back to lunar orbit for their ride home to Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Commercial Space Stations
NASA is committed to maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit as the agency transitions from the International Space Station to commercial space stations.
Commercial Lunar Payload Services
NASA is working with several American companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. These companies, ranging in size, bid on delivering payloads for NASA. Under Artemis, commercial deliveries are performing science experiments, testing technologies, and demonstrating capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon.
Commercial Crew Program
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is delivering on its goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective human transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry.
About Commercial Crew about Commercial Crew Program
Launch Services Program
NASA’s Launch Services Program is responsible for launching rockets delivering spacecraft that observe the Earth, visit other planets and explore the universe – from weather satellites to telescopes to Mars rovers and more.
About Launch Services about Launch Services Program
